Question 1

rosshow vs RViz for debugging ROS topics

Accepted Answer

rosshow is ideal for quick, terminal-based visualizations over SSH without GUI dependencies, while RViz offers full-featured 3D rendering and advanced plugins for complex scenarios. Use rosshow for rapid sensor checks and RViz for detailed analysis.

Question 2

How to use rosshow with a terminal that only supports ASCII

Accepted Answer

Use the -a flag (e.g., 'rosshow -a <topicname>') to enable ASCII-only rendering, which works for all supported message types like NavSatFix and PointCloud2, ensuring compatibility in minimal terminal environments.

Question 3

Does rosshow work with ROS2

Accepted Answer

Yes, rosshow is compatible with both ROS1 and ROS2. You can install it in a colcon workspace and run it with 'ros2 run rosshow rosshow <topicname>', as specified in the README.

Question 4

What ROS message types can rosshow visualize

Accepted Answer

rosshow supports common types from std_msgs (e.g., Int32, Float32), sensor_msgs (e.g., Image, PointCloud2, LaserScan), and nav_msgs (e.g., OccupancyGrid, Path). Check the README for the full list, with more types planned.

Question 5

How to fix rosshow color issues in screen sessions

Accepted Answer

Force a color mode using flags like -c1, -c4, or -c24 (e.g., 'rosshow -c24 <topicname>') to override terminal detection, as recommended in the README for terminals like screen that may not handle colors correctly.

Question 6

Can rosshow visualize custom ROS messages

Accepted Answer

No, rosshow only supports the predefined message types listed in the README. For custom types, you'd need to modify the source code or wait for future updates, as contributions are welcome but not built-in.

rosshow

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